Casting and finishing machine for curved stereotype plates



May 4 1926. 7 1,583,215 H. A. W. WOOD CASTING AND FIN1HING MACHINE FOR CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES 7 Original Filed April 17, 1925. 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 awry:

May 4 1926. 1,583,215

H. A. w. WOOD,

CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE FOR CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES Ori inal Filed April 17, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 o if 1 May 4, 1926. I 1,583,215

H. A. W. WOOD CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE FOB CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES 'Original Filed April 17. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

May 4,1926. 1,533,215

H. A. w. wooo CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE FOR CURVED STERBOTYPB PLATES Original Filed April 17, 1923 5 Sheets-Shoot 4 May 4,1926. 1,583,215 7 H. A. W. WOOD CASTING AND muxsnms MACHINE FOR cunvim Swasonrm PLATES Original Filed April 17. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 4, 1926.

- UNITED: STATES rATENT oFFicE.

HENRY A. WISE woon, or NEW YORK, N. 2., ASSIGNOR. TO woon NEWSPAPER Me OHINERY CORPORATION, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AConrona'rION or VIRGINIA.

CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE For. CURVED STEREOTYPE 'LATEs. 7

Application filed April 17, 1923, Serial No. 632,638. Renewed October 15,1925.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY A. \Vrsn 700D, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Casting and Finishing Machine for Curved Stereotype Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for and method of both casting and finishing curved stereotype printing plates.

The principal object of the invention is to greatly reduce the expense, and the space occupied by a plant; and to avoid the removal of the plate from acasting to a finishing machine, and also thereby to avoid all danger of injury to the plate between the two operations; to provide for casting the plate in the usual manner in a casting chamber'to which the operatives are accustomed, and shaving the plate in the same chamber, so that the casting and finishing of the plates will be performed in the casting mold without providing any separate finishing machine proper; to provide the finishing means in the simplest possible form by mounting the shaving blade on the core itself and the trimming saw on the back of I the casting box itself; to provide means whereby the matrix is kept in contact with the plate during theshaving operation for the sake of simplicity and the protection of the face of the plate; to provide for automatically ejecting the matrix; to provide the core with simple means for ejecting the plate and matrix together while the matrix continues to adhere to the plate itself and thus avoid the use of separate mechanism for ejecting the plate and controlling the matrix; to& provide for shaving the back of the plate by the motion by which it is ejected; to provide means for holding the ends of the matrix arranged to be operated automatically to free the matrix at its forward edge when the plate is to be ejected; to provide 'means for holding the matrix bar to prevent removal of the plate by the rotation of the core for shaving and for releasing the bar invention Fig. 2 is an end view of'the same asindi- 'cated by the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan ofthe edge of the-Inachine showing the parts in a different position from that shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 1 is a side view of the same asindicated by the arrow-4 in Fig. 2; 1 I

Fig. 5. is a sectional View on the line 5 of 1 through the center of the core and cast plate; f

Fig. 6 is an end view of theclutch mechanism as indicated by'the arrow6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an inclined side view of the saw moving mechanism as indicated by the arrow 7 in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 8 is a face view of the cam for'controlling the opening and closing of tl1e.pour-' ing funnel; 1 l

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-.-9 of Fig. 1 through the interior of the mold and illustrating the mechanism below the pouring funnel for controlling the saw;

Fig. 10 is a similar view with some features omitted showing the pouring funnel'in open'position;

'Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged sectional views of the opposite sides ofthe mold wit the matrix and cast in position; r

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but showing the operation of shaving the interior of the plate; f

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they assume when the core has made a half revolutionand the'jops erationof ejection is just about to StEIItpfiIlClf Fig. 15 is a similar view'showing the platepartly ejected. 1 I w' Thisis not intended as a fully automatic 1 machine to secure thehighest rate o-fprdduction, but it is designed to reduce the ex- 1 pense and complication of the machinery for,

casting and finishing curved stereotype lates and to reduce the space occupied. It 15 designed for use in many large plants with much saving in the original cost as well as space.

I haveshown the mechanism as mounted on a frame 9 provided With a power driven shaft 10 rotating constantly. This shaft is provided with a rotating clutch section 11 slidingly keyed to it and adapted to be moved by a clutch lever 12 by hand into position to clutch it to a worm 13 rotatably and freely mounted on the shaft 10. This worm operates a worm wheel 14 and causes it to rotate one complete revolution when the Weight of the clutch lever 12 will swing the lever down and draw the clutch 11 out and stop the machine. This clutch lever has a roll 15 which rotates on a cam 16 on the shaft 20. This cam has a depression 17 for receiving the-roll 15 at the end of a complete rotation and permitting the stopping of the wheel 14 in the manner just mentioned.

The worm wheel 14 is mounted on and operates the core shaft 20. This shaft is mounted in suitable hearings on the fixed frame 9. This frame is provided with a stationary concave back 21 for receiving a matrix M against which the metal is to be cast to form the printing plate P. The other side of the mold is formed by a convex core 22 fixed on the shaft 20 and rotating with it. The back and core are provided with cavities 23 which are supplied With cooling water in ways well known in this art. I

On the core'22 I provide a projection 61 having a substantially radial shaving blade 62 thereon for shaving the interior of the cast plate to a true semi-cylindrical form. The core is provided on its convex casting surface near the edge opposite the riser with one or more plate ejecting pins or projections 63. At that edge it has a groove or ledge 34 adapted to receive the core groove seal. Thepins 63 are embedded in the plate as east and serve, temporarily, to cause the plate to turn with the core.

The semi-cylindrical mold formed by these two parts is completed on its two curved edges by bevel rings 19 recessed at the back to provide spaces for the ends of the matrix M. The mold is closed on one straight side by a matrix bar 25'I'pivoted on a longitudinal hinge shaft 26. This matrix bar has a longi-- tudinal slot or notch 27 for the edge of the matrix. The shaft 26 is mounted to turn in hearings in brackets 27 carried at the side of the back and is provided with a spring 28 for yieldingly holding the matrix bar back in open position away from the edge of the box as shown in Fig. 15. On the shaft 26 is a handle 24 by which the bar 25 is brought to closed position. Over this shaft 26 is a core groove seal hinge 29 having a spring 30 surroundlng it and also surrounding a pin 31 .other spring 28 and yieldingly holds the seal 33 in closed position against the bar 25 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

The matrix bar 25 is held by a pair of matrix bar locking levers pivoted on studs 66 and having notches at their ends adapted to engage in projections 71 on the opposite ends of the matrix bar. These levers are pressed by springs 64 so that their operative ends are forced against the ends of the bar. These ends and the bar are bevelled to cause them to engage automatically. The opposite ends of the levers 65 are connected by links 67 with a lever 69 mounted on a stud 70 to which it is fixed. On the main shaft 20 is a matrix bar locking hook throw-out cam 77 which at the end of the rotation of this shaft engages and forces forward a roll 78 on a lever 79 pivoted at 84. This lever by a link 80 operates a bell crank 81 which is connected by a connection 82 with one of the matrix locking hooks 65. The other hook 65 is forced to move exactly with this one by the connections 67, 69, etc.

The matrix bar 25 is held positively by the hooks to prevent motion of the cast plate while the shaving operation is performed. The cam 77 is so located that the matrix bar is released as soon as the core has completed a half revolution for shaving and then the matrix bar offers no further ends alike but arranged oppositely. In this groove lies a roll or projection 42 on a lever 43 which is conveniently pivoted and is connected at the other end with a-rod 44 pivoted to an arm 45 fixed on a shaft 46. On this shaft are a pair of arms 47 on which is located the pouring funnel 35.

By turning the arm 37 from one extreme position to the other the cam 40 is turned so as to cause the roll 42 to move outwardly from the center, then dwell for a third of a turn, and then move inwardly at the end of the stroke. Thus the funnel 35swings away from the back, rests, and closes. When the cam is turned from that extreme back to the'one previously referred to the same sequence of operations takes place. These parts are operated by turning'the' handle 37 from either extreme position to the other and then leaving it there "so that at: the next operation it can be turned back through the same are but in the opposite'direction. This has the same effect in both cases as .far as the parts just described are coneach'oscillation of the wheel 89 a saw carriage 51 connected with the chain moves through a straight path equal in length to the linear motion of any point on the wheel while it makes an oscillation in one direction. This carriage 51 is in the form of a reotion, it saws off another riser.

slide moving horizontally on inclined ways 52 on the side of the back 21.

The carriage 51 carries three parallel inclined shafts, a saw shaft 53 and two pulley shafts 5 1. On eaohof the latter there is a pulley 55. A belt 56 runs over these pulleys and also over a pulley on the saw shaft 53. This belt 56 is driven from a pulley 57 on a shaft 58 constantly geared by gears 59 to the main driving shaft 10 so that this belt runs constantly in the same direction.

On the saw shaft 53 is a saw 60. This is a trimming-offsaw which, as it moves from one side to the other in either direction, constantly rotating, severs the riser from the plate. The parts are so timed that it passes into the plate just afer the funnel 35 has been raised by the cam 40 and when it emerges from the plate this funnel is vre- 40 stored to its closed position by the cam 10.

The parts then stop there except that the saw continues to rotate. It has no further action until the handle 37 is movedwback again'and then, moving in the'opposite dibe seen therefore that this trimming mech-' anism is mounted on the casting box and operates on a cast plate while the latter is in the mold in which it was cast. w

Operation.

With the matrix bar 25 in the position shown in Fig. 15 and the core in its position of rest as shown in Fig. 9, and the funnel 35 closed, the mold being empty, the matrix is inserted from the left hand side edgeways with its edges that are to be curved entering under the pair of bevel rings 19. It is pushed along under these rings until its forward edge enters the notch 36 provided for it in the funnel. Then it rests against the back and fits snugly against it. The matrix is held loosely but snugly at these three edges which sufficiently cover it to prevent the molten metal from running around them and getting behind the matrix. After the It will matrix has been set'the bar 25 is closed against the rear edge of the matrix by turning the handle 24:. The core'groove seal 33 closeswith it. It is locked automatically by the looking levers 65. v i 1 After the casting is poured through the spout 90 and sufiiciently cooled,. the han-- i dle 37 is turned from one extreme position to the other. This lifts the funnel moves the saw 60 along the edge of theback to trim off the riser, and finally'restores the funnel to closed position. The starting'handle 12 is now lifted and the power shaft 10 connected with the core shaft 20. This causes the core tofturn from the casting position shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The first efiect of this is to cause the pins 63 on the core to plow out of the plate as shown in Fig. 13.

leaving short shallow grooves in the back thereof. The edge of the core also lifts the core groove seal 33, against the resistance of the spring 30, as indicated in that figure. It remains in open position while the shaving operation is going on. 'The blade 62 shaves the interior of the plate so as to fit it to the cylinder of the'press on which it is to be mounted and completesthat operation in half a revolution.

'lVhen the half revolution is completed the pin or pins 63- come to the position shown in Fig. 14. Here they engage the fresh sawed radial rear'edge of the plate. At this time the cam 77 operates to release the matrix bar 25'by withdrawing the hooks 65. There foreyfurther' rotation of the core will result in moving the plate along in a circu-- lar direction out of the mold pushing ahead of it the matrix bar 25 to the point indicated in Fig. 15. When the revolution has been completed by a continuous motion the plate and matrix willbe practically ejected from the'mold. The matrix M, of course, goes with the plate on account of the mutual C011", tact of their raised and'depressed surfaces. The operator takes hold of them pulls them out from contact with the mold and core, separates the matrix from the plate and disposes of the plate in any convenient way.

It will be remembered that the core is now back in the position shown in Fig. 9. He

now takes the same matrix or another one, as he desires, and introduces it in the "back in the manner previously described and."

closes down the bar 25 and seal 33. The

It will be seen therefore,that although this machine requires more attention on the part ofthe operator than a full automatic machine, llllDVOlVGS avery much less expensive plant and adds very little to the cost of the simple form of casting machine and yet providesfor casting, ejecting the plate,' and finishing. This invention provides for securing these results with the smallest amount of mechanism-that has ever been proposed for that purpose as far as I am aware. Therefore, the first cost of the machine is very greatly reduced and also the cost of the upkeep. By casting the plate and shaving itin the same chamber I not only reduce the amount of mechanism employed, but I avoid the necessity of handling the plate with the possibility of damaging it. I provide for backing up the plate by its own matrix without having moved the matrix from the plate or either one from the mold. Thus the matrix prevents damage to the plate during the shaving operation. The irregularities of the face of the plate are filled by the matrix exactly, therefore this is a feature of importance as will be obvious. The ejection of the plate and matrix is performed also without providing any additional mechanism except the pins on the core and the means for releasing the matrix bar.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described but what I do claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, a mold for casting a curved stereotype printing plate comprising a segmental back, and a relatively rotatable convex core, said core having a shaving blade thereon in position to shave the entire interior surface of a plate while in its original position in the back.

2. As an article of manufacture, a mold for casting a curved stereotype printing plate comprising a segmental back and a relatively rotatable convex core, said core -having a shaving blade fixed thereon, and

means for ejecting the cast plate through the side of the mold in a circular direction as the core rotates.

3. The combination with a stereotype plate casting mold, of means operating therein for finishing a casting without removing the latter. V

i. The combination with a stereotype printing plate casting back, of means relatively movable within the back for shaving the interior of a curved plate cast and located therein.

5. The combination with a stereotype plate casting back of segmental form, of a .core having a convex surface rotatable therein between which and the back the plate is adapted to be cast, and means rotatable with the corefor shaving the interior of the plate in the back as the core rotates through a half revolution. I

6. The combination with a stereotype plate casting mold of semi-circular shape 8. The combination with a stereotype plate casting back of segmental form, of a core having a convex surface rotatable therein, and means rotatable with the, core forshaving the interior of the plate while the plate rests against the matrix and the matrix is in its original casting position in the back. 9. The combination with a stereotype plate casting back of segmental form, of a core having a convex surface rotatable therein, means rotatable with the core for shaving the interior of the plate in the back as the core rotates part of a revolution, and means whereby the continued rotation of the core through the remainder of a single revolution will eject the plate from the back.

10. The combination with a stereotype plate casting back of semi-circular shape having its axis horizontal, of a core cooperating with the back to complete the mold cavity and rotatable on the axis of the back,

said core being. provided with means for shaving the interior of the plate as it rotates a part of a revolution, and means whereby the continued rotation of the core through the remainder of the revolution will eject the plate and the matrix from the back in a circular directionv and bring the core back to casting position.

11. The combination with a semi-cylindrical back and a semi-cylindrical core rotatsaid core also having means adapted to come into contact with the. rear edge of the casting when the rotation is continued to enable the core to push the plate out of the back by its rotation.

13. The combination with a semi-cylindri-' cal back. and a semicvlindrical core rotatable on the axis of the back, said core having a shaving blade fixed thereon for shaving the interior of the cast plate in the back, said core also having near its forward edge a projection adapted to be pulled out of the casting when the core is rotated and to come into contact with the rear edge of the casting nov when the rotation is continuedto enable the core to push the plate out of the back by its rotation. I

14. The combination with a stereotype plate casting back,of a core and means on the core for shaving the interior of the plate while the plate rests against the matrix in its original casting position in the back.

15. In a stereotype plate casting and ,finishing device, the combination with a curved back and a concentric core-rotatably mounted with respect thereto, of a pouring funnel mounted at one edge of the back, means for plate casting mold of semi-circular shape having its axis/horizontal and having a pouring mouth at one straight edge, of a core cooperating with the back to complete the mold cavity and rotatable on the axis of the back, said core being provided with means for shaving the interior'of the plate as it rotates, andmeans movable longitudinally along'the back for sawing off the riser of the plate.

18. In a stereotype plate casting and finishing device, the combination with a curved back and a concentric core rotatably mounted with respect thereto, of a pouring funnel mounted along one edge of the back, a cam, a system of levers for operating said cam connected with said pouring funnel for moving it into and out of operative posi tion, a guide on the back adjacent said pouring funnel, a saw carriage mounted to move on said guide, a shaft on which said cam is located, means on said shaft for moving the carriage along the slide, and a saw on said carriage in position to saw the riser off the plate as it moves in one direction when the shaft is turned as far as it can be turned, and to saw another riser off when moved in the opposite direction as the shaft is turned back.

19. In a stereotype plate casting and finishing device, the combination with a curved back and a concentric core rotatably mounted with respect thereto, of a pouring funnel mounted along one edge of the-back, a cam, means connected with said cam and pouring funnel for moving the funnel into and out of operative position, a guide on the back adjacent said pouring funnel, a saw carriage mounted to move on said guide, a shaft on which said cam is located, means on, said shaft. for moving the carriage along the slide, a "saw on 'said' c'arriage 'in position to saw the riser off theplate as itjmoves in either direction when the shaft is turned as far as it can be turned, the cam having a double'groove arranged to perform the same functions on thefunnel no matter in which way the shaft is turned, and to withdraw the funnel from the back before the saw moves into cutting position from either end of its stroke. 1 20. In a stereotype. plate casting and finishing device, the combination with a' curved back and a concentric core rotatably nioiint- I ed withrespect thereto,.of a pouring funnel I 1 mounted along one edge of the back, a cam, a system of levers for operating said; cam and connected with said pouring funnel'for moving th pouring funnel into" and out of operativeposition, a matrix bar for closing the end of the mold, a' pa'ir of hooks for holding the matrix bar in its fixed position,

and means for releasing said hooks.

21. The combination with a stereotype platefcasting back of segmental form, of a core having a convex surface rotatable therein between which and the back the plate is adapted to be cast, means rotatable with the core for shaving the interior of the plate in the back as the core rotates, hand oper atedineans for starting therotation of the core, and automatic means forstopping it after it has completed a full revolution.

22. As an article of manufacture, a semicylindrical core for a casting box having a shaving blade mounted on the opposite the casting face.

23. is an articleof manufacture, a curved core for a casting mold having a shaving blade thereon located with its edge substantially in a continuation of the cylindrical casting surface of the core.

2-4. As an article of manufacture, a semicircular core for a stereotype plate casting box having a shaving blade extending along the back thereof and movable therewith.

25. As an article of manufacture, a core for a stereotype plate casting box having a shaving blade movable therewith, and having a projection on its casting face adapted to be embedded in the back of a plate cast thereon.

26. As an article of manufacture, a core for a casting box having a projection on its casting face arranged to be embedded slightly in the plate cast therefrom, whereby the plate can be moved by the core but the pro j ection will plow out of the plate when the core is moved laterally if the plate is held in stationary position. i

27 As an article of manufacture, a core for a casting mold having a projection adapted to engage the cast plate and deliver the plate by the motion ofthe core.

side thereof I 28. The method of finishing a stereotype printing plate which consists in holding it in contact with its matrix without removing the matrix therefrom and without removing either from the casting back, and shaving the opposite surface of the plate while backed up by the matrix in its original casting position both with respect to the plate and back.

29. The method of finishing a curved stereotype printing plate which consists in shaving off the back surface thereof while the printing surface is in contact with the matrix on which it was cast and the matrix is in contact throughout its surface with the back against which it rested while the plate was cast.

30. The method of casting and finishing curved stereotype printing plates which consists in casting a plate in a curved back against a curved matrix fitting therein and then shaving off the concave surface of the plate while the plate-is retained in its orig- Wi inal casting position in the back and in contact with the matrix in its casting position.

31. The method of casting and finishing a curved stereotype printing plate which consists in casting the plate in a curved back against a matrix therein, finishing the back of the plate while retained in the original v position in the back and on the matrix, and then ejecting the plate and matrixtsimultaneously, keeping them in their original contact with each other during the ejecting action.

32. The method of finishing and delivering a cast stereotype printing plate which consists in shaving the hack of the plate by a circular motion while the plate is in contact with the curved matrix on which it was cast and then, when the shaving operation is completed, exerting a pressure on the edge of the plate in the same direction and ejecting the plate and matrix together from the mold, keeping the plate and matrix in contact until they are separated from the mold;

33. The method of ejecting a cast plate from a mold which consists in pushing both the plate and the matrix out of the mold sideways in a direction parallel with the printing surface'of the plate.

34. The method of ejecting a cast plate from a mold, both parts of which are per manently fixed at an unchanging distance apart, which consists in protecting the entire face of the plate with the matrix from which i it was cast, during all of its ejection from the mold.

35. The method of protecting the printing surface of a freshly cast curved printing plate during its delivery from the mold which consists in keeping the matrix in its original contact with the plate and moving them together from the mold edgewise without moving them longitudinally. V

36. The method of ejecting a matrix from a stereotype plate casting mold which, consists in moving the matrix out ofthe mold edgewise with the cast plate by a rotary motion through half a circle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HENRY A. "WISE -WOOD. 

